Introduction

Share our trials and tribulations as we build our new home - a custom Dominico by Fairmont Homes NSW

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Will We Ever Have a House..?


So, today marked the sad realisation that we won’t be in by Christmas.

I’m beginning to doubt that Council will ever approve our plans, and so understandably we’ve nearly run out of passion for the build. But, backed by the logical conclusion that one day we will have our house, we have made some changes to the bathroom selections purely to save some money. It’s always a difficult balancing act between what you need, what you want, what you can afford, what is good for re-sale, what will last etc.

We’ve made the big decision to get rid of the spa bath and simply have the bath version of the same tub. It’s still built for two with the waste in the middle and sloped sides, but it’s significantly cheaper. When we really thought about it, it’s unlikely we would use the spa much, it doesn’t really add to re-sale and they aren’t ideal for small kidlets which we, or future owners, may one day have. We’ve also gone with standard sink mixers and towel rails, removed some robe hooks and picked a more simple/cheap vanity in the Main Bathroom. These are all things we can upgrade later if we want. We’re leaving most of the upgrades in the Ensuite however.

A few more cost-saving choices we’ve made are to install our own flooring, data-cabling, extra joinery i.e. Laundry, wardrobes, garage etc. We’re also planning on doing a lot of the landscaping ourselves and we’ve gone with the sheen finish for the kitchen. It’s still an upgrade, but it’s considerably less than the gloss.

*sigh* So, shall we start taking bets on if/when we get approval..? It’s all apparently approved in principal and should have been rubber-stamped as soon as Council had the new survey and plans….that was several weeks ago...

10 comments:

  1. Ugggh, waiting to get out of the starting gates is excruciating - I sympathise with how defeated you must be feeling at the moment. I hope you get your approval soon and the site start can get underway and reinvigorate your passion for the build.

    Wise move on the cost saving measures. As I've found throughout our build, you get used to seeing your finishes as you watch each being installed, so they're decidedly less exciting to see in the end - with or without upgraded items!

    Keeping my fingers crossed you'll get good news in the coming days!

    Nat

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    1. Thanks Nat. I appreciate your encouraging words :)

      Ash.

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  2. Hi, have been following for a short while. Just wanted to let you know I totally get what you means, the feeling like it's never going to happen. We bought our block almost 2 years ago, have had a lot of complications and a lot of back and forth with our builder. We waited 9 weeks for council approval and it finally came through this Thursday just gone. It was totally out of the blue and unexpected, so just wanted you to know that it will come through eventually! It's hard not to let it get to you, but it's good to remind yourself that one way or another, you are getting that house eventually. Good luck, hope it will be soon. It might just be right around the corner!

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    1. Thanks Lauren, it's heartening to know that it will happen. Plans have been in Council since beginning of January...but we know it'll get there. The weird thing is that it's not like we're building anything out of the ordinary. I wonder how fast they'd be if we're building a fortress! We might die of old age...

      Thanks again,
      Ash.

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    2. It's just so hard to plan anything when you don't know when things will get started. Sending good building vibes, crossed fingers and all of that your way!

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    3. Our builder today said that we have approval but they're just waiting on the final paperwork -_-

      We've been told that they will do the ordering for the job this week and will likely get things moving on site next week, but we will see...

      We were also told, though not promised anything, not to give up on possibly being in by Christmas...so I shall keep the hope alive, though I won't be holding my breath.

      All positive steps forward. Must be your good building vibes ;)

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  3. Gosh so sorry to read this hun :(
    let's hope you here from them soon

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  4. *hear rather.
    Next week could be a fantastic week for both of us!

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    1. Oo, I hope so! I'm in the midst of picking colours atm and it's hard because I forgot to get sample pots and now I find myself against a deadline and likely having to "shoot from the hip." *gulp*

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